Tag Archives: Sansyou

What if guitarist Steve Kilbey of The Church decided his life wouldn’t be complete until he formed a band with Robin Guthrie?

“Robin, I’ve long admired your work and would love to play with you,” I imagine Steve saying. “There’s just one catch,” he would quickly stipulate. “No vocals. Oh, and let’s dial back on the reverb – we don’t need it.” At this point, I imagine Robin enthusiastically agreeing, with the talented Cocteau Twins guitarist pointing out he’s always wanted to demonstrate what he’s capable of without his armada of effects pedals.

I often find myself referring to Sansyou as DC’s answer to The Durutti Column.

That’s not to say that this talented instrumental trio from our nation’s capital evokes the same virtuoso style of Vini Reilly, one of the greatest and most singular guitarists of the new wave/post-punk era. But as Sansyou’s debut album “The Glistening One” demonstrates, both artists share a similar philosophy when it comes to creating atmosphere.